UMKC Adds “first of its kind” Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture

Posted April 30, 2024

The University of Missouri-Kansas City will offer a new undergraduate degree program later this fall, allowing students to pursue a bachelor’s in architecture.

The new five-year program will be housed in the School of Science and Engineering. Students will interact with courses, studio work and internships with architectural firms in Kansas City.

The program will be a “first of its kind” in the state of Missouri, according to a release.

Kansas City firms in support of the program include Focal Design Studio, SLATTERY Design + Architecture (formerly Odimo Architects), Populous, Multistudio, Burns & McDonnell and DRAW Architecture + Urban Design, according to the release.

“We are excited to provide students the ability to pursue architecture and design in a city that’s known for its local and global architectural projects, allowing our students to have real-world experiences in their educational program,” UMKC School of Science and Engineering Dean Kevin Truman said in the release.

Additionally, the program will bolster far-reaching benefits to the Kansas City area, executive director of the American Institute of Architects in Kansas City, Dawn Taylor said in the release.

“Expanding the opportunities at UMKC for students to achieve an architecture degree is exciting and positive, as it offers students an affordable and accessible option to earn their degree,” Taylor said. “Our chapter wants to see more students, especially from our region, choose careers in architecture and design to increase the talent pipeline for all of our firms.”

The median pay for architects in 2023 was $93,310 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.